Surat: Tournament favourites Gujarat men’s table tennis team lived up to their top billing by winning both their Group encounters with ease while the women’s team kept their semi-final hopes alive by beating Haryana in the second group match in the 36th National Games here on Tuesday.
Harmeet Desai-led Gujarat men’s team began their march by beating Haryana 3-0 in the opening session and then blanked Delhi with an identical score-line in the afternoon session to virtually book their semi-final spot.
Harmeet was hardly troubled in any of his matches while Manav Thakkar was made to dig deep by Payas Jain of Delhi in the second match. However, the former world No. 1 junior kept his cool under pressure to scrape through.
The team captain was understandably happy with their performance. “We started off with a bang and that has released the pressure on us. Together all three of us are playing well and that should send out a signal that we are the favourites now,” he said.
Thakkar was more excited about playing in front of the home crowd for the first time and said he was glad that he could deliver the win.
“This is the first time my father saw me play live so it was an unbelievable feeling. I am glad that I could perform well on my home debut.” He said.
In the women’s section, Gujarat had lost the opening Group A clash against top seeds Maharashtra 0-3 and needed a win against Haryana to stay alive in the contest.
Harmeet’s wife Krittwika Sinha Roy came to the team’s rescue after Frenaz Chipia lost the opening match against Suhana Saini by winning both her singles matches. Filzahfatema Kadri defeated Trisha Paul in straight sets in the third rubber to hand the team 3-1 win.
Maharashtra women all but booked their semi-final berth from Group A by beating Telangana 3-0 in their second match. In Group B, West Bengal registered two contrasting wins and are currently top of the group with one round left to play.
Results:
Men:
Gujarat bt Delhi 3-0 (Harmeet Desai bt Sudhanshu Grover 11-9, 11-7, 11-8; Manav Thakkar bt Payas Jain 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7; Manush Shah bt Shubh Goel 11-5, 11-8,11-5)
Gujarat bt Haryana 3-0 (Harmeet Desai bt Soumyajit Ghosh 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9; Manav Thakkar bt Wesley Do Roserio 11-4, 11-4 ,11-2; Manush Shah bt Jubin Kumar 12-10, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8)
Women:
Gujarat bt Haryana 3-1 (Frenaz Chipia lost to Suhana Saini 11-9, 11-8, 11-7; Krittwika Sinha Roy bt Riti Shankar 5-11, 11-13, 11-9, 4-11; Filzahfatema Kadri bt Trisha Paul 13-15, 5-11, 6-11; Krittwika bt Saini 9-11,11-7, 6-11, 7-11)
Maharashtra bt Gujarat 3-0 (Diya Chitale bt Frenaz Chipia 11-9, 11-6, 12-10; Swastika Ghosh bt Krittwika Sinha Roy 11-4, 11-12, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9; Reeth Rishya Tennison bt Filzahfatema Kadri 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4)
